Soccer referee admitted sex abuse, records claim

The Barbers Point man faces a child pornography count

A Barbers Point man accused of possessing child pornography admitted to federal investigators that he had sexual contact with two boys, ages 10 and 12, according to court documents.

Giovanni L. Canapino, 19, an assistant soccer referee, was charged in a federal complaint yesterday with one count of possessing child pornography and made his first appearance in U.S. District Court.

He is not accused of having sex with children but after his arrest Saturday he allegedly revealed that he "french kissed" one of the boys and brushed his hands over both boys' genitals through their clothing, but denied having sexual intercourse with them.

He also denied having sexual contact with the boys at soccer games he refereed.

Federal investigators said Canapino revealed on an Internet chat room that he liked boys and wanted to have oral sex with them, according to the complaint.

When federal agents arrested him at his Barbers Point home they seized a computer hard drive and compact discs which allegedly contained visual images of minors forced to engage in sexually explicit conduct, according to the complaint. Also seized was a notebook under a bed allegedly belonging to Canapino that contained printed images of child pornography.

The complaint does not say whether the children involved are from Hawaii.

Canapino is being represented by the federal public defender's office and could not be reached for comment.

Following his arrest, Canapino allegedly admitted to visiting the WinMx chat room called "kiddypics & kiddyvids" to obtain and share child pornography.

According to a court affidavit, undercover investigators monitoring a WinMx chat room called "kiddypics & kiddyvids" on Jan. 26 learned that a person using the screen name "Geograns 763" was sharing files whose titles suggested child pornography and that the account belonged to a Kapolei resident.

Agents took over the chat room and during a March 5 chat, "Geograns" allegedly revealed he was an assistant soccer referee, was "horny as hell" after refereeing a boys soccer game, that he liked boys and wanted to have oral sex with them, wrote Brandon Jim On, senior special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Tong declined comment on the case, saying the investigation is ongoing. But he expects to argue to the court tomorrow that Canapino is a danger to others and a flight risk who should be held without bail.

Canapino lives with his parents, who declined to comment on the allegations.

The tip about Canapino came from investigators with the Child Exploitation/Cyber Crimes Division of the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago, who have been investigating whether child pornography is being distributed through chat rooms.

They notified investigators here on Thursday, two days before Canapino's arrest.

Possession of child pornography is punishable by a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.